Mistel MD770 PRO split mechanical keyboard

Is this keyboard right for me?

The Mistel MD770 PRO consists of two separate halves that you place side by side. The left-hand half is narrower than the right-hand half, so bear both dimensions in mind when organising your desk. Below you'll find a summary of the MD770 PRO's key dimensions and connections.

A tribute to the Mistel MD770 PRO

What 'PRO' stands for

Manufacturers slap the word 'PRO' on everything, as if a capital letter automatically makes your work better. With the Mistel MD770 PRO, for a change, there's actually substance behind it: an aluminium body, nine tilt positions and a battery that lasts for days rather than half an hour. The MD770 was already great; the PRO simply takes it up a notch. No marketing hype, just a few extra screws.

Why choose the Mistel MD770 PRO keyboard?

Split design

The Mistel MD770 PRO consists of two separate halves that you can position freely on your desk. A split keyboard distributes your typing across two sections. You place each half directly in front of your shoulder, which means your forearms are less likely to twist inwards.

You can position the two halves of the MD770 PRO as far apart as feels comfortable. There's even room for a mouse or notepad between them. This gives your wrist and shoulder noticeably more space.

Tenting and tilt

The biggest improvement in the Mistel MD770 PRO lies in its adjustability. Using the screw-in feet supplied, you can set nine different tilt positions: tenting, forward tilt and negative tilt. In the tenting position, the inner sides of the halves are raised, allowing your hands to rest more naturally on their sides.

This photo shows a different colour variant. The adjustment mechanism works exactly the same way on the Urban Grey model.

Forward tilt lowers the back, whilst negative tilt flattens your wrists. This allows you to find the position that suits your posture with the MD770 PRO. Make sure you screw the feet securely in place so that you don't accidentally change the position whilst using it.

Connectivity

You can connect the Mistel MD770 PRO in three ways: using the USB-C cable, via Bluetooth 5.0, or with the included 2.4 GHz receiver. The 2.4 GHz wireless connection operates at 1000 Hz, just as smoothly as the wired connection. This makes it easy to switch between your laptop, desktop and tablet with the MD770 PRO.

Programmable

You can fully customise the Mistel MD770 PRO to suit your needs using the VIA software. Within the software, you can re-map keys, create macros and assign functions wherever you want. The MD770 PRO remembers these settings, even on a different computer.

Build quality

The Mistel MD770 PRO's casing is milled from a single piece of aluminium. It feels sturdy and the keyboard stays firmly in place. The keycaps are made of PBT with double-shot lettering, so the printing won't wear off.

What makes an ergonomic keyboard so good?

Anyone who types day in, day out will notice that a standard keyboard puts strain on your wrists, shoulders and neck. An ergonomic keyboard like the Mistel MD770 PRO tackles this in two ways: the split design keeps your wrists straighter, and the tilt settings relieve strain on your forearms. You can also position your mouse closer, so you don't have to reach as far. This combination can help reduce tension in your upper body.

Get the most out of this product

When purchasing the Mistel MD770 PRO, you can choose which switches are fitted. All four options cost the same, so it's purely a matter of preference. A linear switch moves smoothly without a noticeable pressure point, whilst a tactile switch has a distinct click halfway through the travel.

	HMX Peach Pink	KTT Hyacinth	Outemu Cream Yellow Pro	Gateron G Pro 3.0 Brown
TypeLinear travels evenly. Tactile has a noticeable bump. Clicky adds an audible click to that bump.	Silent linear	Linear	Silent tactile	Tactile
Actuation force:Force:The force needed to register a keystroke. A regular rubber dome keyboard needs 55 to 60 g, so lower means lighter typing.	37 g	45 g	50 g	55 g
Registers after:The distance the key travels before the keystroke registers. You do not have to press the key all the way down. Technical term: pre-travel or actuation point.	2.0 mm	1.9 mm	2.0 mm	2.0 mm
Full travel:Travel:The total distance until the key can go no further.	3.75 mm	3.5 mm	3.3 mm	4.0 mm
Sound:Indication for normal typing. Even a silent switch makes noise if you bottom out the key.	Very quiet	Moderate	Very quiet	Moderate
Feel:How the key feels while typing, in the manufacturer's words.	Smooth, light, responsive rebound	Buttery, effortless	Cushioned, quiet	Clear tactile bump
Use case:The use the manufacturer recommends this switch for.	Fast typing, gaming, late night	Fast typing, gaming	Office, late night	Office

The operating force tells you how heavy a key press is: the HMX Peach Pink is the lightest at 37 grams, the Gateron the firmest at 55 grams. Pre-travel is the distance before the key registers, total travel how far it goes down in all.

The two quiet variants, HMX Peach Pink and Outemu Cream Yellow Pro, are a great choice for an open-plan office or if you do a lot of video calls. They make significantly less noise than the other two, although no mechanical switch is completely silent. If you're choosing the MD770 PRO for a quiet environment, these two are the right choice.

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Hot-swap switches

The Mistel MD770 PRO has hot-swap sockets. This means you can swap the switches without soldering: just pull one out and pop another in. This allows you to change the typing feel of your MD770 PRO later on without any hassle.

Volume control and media buttons

On the right-hand side of the Mistel MD770 PRO is a physical volume knob. So you can adjust the volume with a simple twist, without having to search for a key combination. The media keys are also located there.

RGB lighting

The MD770 PRO has RGB lighting that you can customise to your taste or switch off. Bear in mind the impact on battery life: with the lighting on, the MD770 PRO lasts for around 12 hours; with the lighting off, this increases to approximately 90 hours.

MD770 or MD770 PRO?

The MD770 PRO is the successor to the MD770. Both remain available, so here are the differences at a glance.

If you are on a tighter budget and have no need for tenting or the 2.4 GHz connection, the Mistel MD770 is still a fine buy.